QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IT IS NOT THE DESTINATION BUT THE JOURNEY THAT COUNTS"

my dad

Thanks for the reminder dad -- and the journey has been amazing -- I am so thankful to have been able to be part of this amazing sport -- the ups and downs have been a roller coaster ride but hell, isn't life......The new clinic will be a God send to me -- only people who are committed to bettering their performances will be part of it and that way my crazy training will not have a backlash like there has been in the recent past.........

Suwa Ko --- pictures to follow, as I am writing this at the Narita Airport in Japan...............3000 feet above sea level not expected -- lesson one -- check out your race geographically; Lesson 2 -- dress for the finish not the start -- I have always done this but not this time and I suffered -- it was cold, cold an hour before the race -- 20 minutes in the hear and humidity hit...I knew we were all in for a difficult day -- a monsoon had hit the night before and that was scarey but amazing to witness....

They dont have pace bunnies in Japan -- they have pace cows, tigers, spidermen, etc etc -- all in head to toe outfits -- amazing to see......Taiko drums and fireworks at the start and fireworks to announce the end at 2:40

Had two of my younger participants at the Rosedale Running Room clinic appear at the race to surprise me -- what a great feeling to see them there.

The most beautiful race course I have ever seen -- nothing can compare - the Lake at your left side from start to finish, snow capped mountains so close you could touch them when you make the turn to home at 16k ---- spectators yelling for a full 21.1 k -- not the first and last 500 meters like in Canada.........

The greatest event I have been part of -- you get your race shirt when you finish - not till then.... You get your medal four weeks after the race as the engrave your name and finish time on it and ship it to you - this is a keeper.

To set a personal best here is the culmination of almost two years of hard work -- but the lessons I learned will drive me to work even harder -- never take anything for granted and be a real student of the sport.

More to follow -- the Sake is starting to do the talking -- Cheers or as they say here "Campi"

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I will post a full report when I return to Canada but suffice to say

Airfare $1200

Hotels $700

Rail Pass $170

Persoal Best in Japan ----PRICELESS

2:22:55:93

3000 feet above sea level not expected

heat and humidity not expected

Lessons Learned -- too many too count

"I HAVE TALKED THE WALK -- NOW, IT IS TIME TO WALK THE TALK"

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years that they spend preparing for it."

-T. Allan Armstrong

To everyone who has emailed me, facebooked me, responded on this blog or signed my good luck shirt --- Thank you so much for your support --72 hours and I am off to the Suwa Ko Half Marathon in Japan -- Race time 10am Sunday the 28th -- which is 9pm Toronto time on Saturday night...

I probably will not get a chance to post until the 31st at the airport in Narita................have a good week all -- "we will just give 'er" in Japan.

Good last speed workout today -- plus the bike -- man, I love the way the bike workouts are helping me without putting pressure on my knees -- what a bonus.

Registration is now up for the Personal Best Walking Clinic -- beginning Januart 10th -- 6:30pm at the Commerce Court Running Room

VISUALIZE YOUR DREAMS -- VISUALIZE THE FINISH LINE!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Undertake something that is difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

- Ronald E. Osborn

A special thanks to my virtual friends Stephen, Tammy and Sarah for their continuing emotional support -- I will carry your thoughts with me next week.

As Stephen would say "BRING IT ON!!" -- I think I am finally feeling like I may be ready in time for the race in Suwa Ko -- I did my last long distance the other day and did a 2:12:57 (20K) -- so I am quite pleased with that -- yesterday I had an awesome workout in the gym -- 35 combined kms -- 25 bike, 5 stairmaster, 5 treadmill -- some ITB soreness this morning but nothing out of the ordinary.

I cant believe it is only a week from today when I fly out -- got the Canada uni and flag ready - hoping to get participants to sign the flag on race day -- would be a nice memento.

On another note -- the "PERSONAL BEST WALKING CLINIC" is a confirmed go -- registration will be on line in the next couple of days -- my goals and curriculum have been okayed by the Running Room and I am thrilled -- this will not be for the faint of heart -- you want a PB -- come to this clinic -- if you don"t it wont be for you..

Speaking of PBs -- my clinic members did an amazing job at the Toronto Marathon last Sunday -- Welcome to the CLUB FOLKS --"ELITE WALKING ENDURANCE ATHLETES" walk through it's door

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Pain. Love it, hate it, get angry at it. Breath it with every breath, feel it with every step and use it. It lets you know you are still alive, more alive than most people will be in their whole lives."

- Strauss

I dedicate this post to my virtual friend Stephen, down there in California -- hospitalized with a sometimes debilitating lung disease two weeks before the Portland Marathon -- comes out of the hospital and finishes Portland upright and smiling -- A PROFILE IN COURAGE to say the very least ---THANK YOU STEPHEN FOR REMINDING US ALL WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT!!!!

I will certainly carry Stephen's inspiration with me to Japan -- with he and Tammy on my shoulders how could I possibly go wrong.....

Start/Finish line within view of this castle

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There will come a point in the race, when you alone will need to decide. You will need to make a choice. Do you really want it? You will need to decide."

Today my virtual friend Stephen is competing in the Portland Marathon -- my thoughts are with you Stephen -- "You can do it!!!"

Well sometimes less is more I guess -- this past week I have been unable to do the mileage I had planned due to the stubborn cold I had and my work schedule -- I did 86 combined kms - 38 walking and 48 on the bike -- far short of the 125+ I would have liked --- BUT something amazing came about as a result of it --- I went out this morning and decided to do a tempo 10k and just see how quick I could get it done --- a PB training time of 1:03:10 was the result -- am I thrilled -- for sure ------------Sarah, Tammy -- your sub 60:00 10ks are such a phenomenal accomplishment -- I know what this morning took out of me and for you two to have the times you do just amazes and humbles me...............you guys are such a motivation.....

I miss my weekend walks and talks with my favorite training partners --Glenn and Lin -- If you read this guys -- we have to do it again -- soon and often -- I miss you friendship and companionship!!!

The picture attached is of a Samurai castle at Suwa Ko and with in sight of the start finish line -- 3 weeks from today is race day -- can't believe it!!!

TRY FOR A PERSONAL BEST

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Don't allow anyone to tell you what you can and cannot do. Be tough, be stubborn, love yourself, and find friends who believe in you. Recognize your victories."

- Joan Benoit Samuelson

Only three weeks till race weekend in Japan -- am I getting a little excited -- Just a LITTLE!! - I am hoping and praying that my preparation is on the mark and I will peak when I want to in Japan -- not before or after -- It has all been about this race and setting a Personal Best when I am there............exciting news though -- as I mentioned before my step-son is running the race and will pace me the first half but a friend from Japan who is also a runner has stepped up and offered to pace me the last half -- he very humorously said he hoped he could keep up!!! Yeah, right!! I have never worked with a pacer before so this will be an interesting experience....

My virtual friend Stephen -- "GOOD LUCK IN PORTLAND STEPHEN -- JUST DO 'ER!!" ---asked me what a Personal Best Walking clinic is as I had mentioned it in my last post....Well, simply put -- through motivation, inspiration and perspiration I hope to boldly take people where no-one has gone before -- to take their already amazing walking performances and make them better --- faster, stronger and more complete............using a variety of training techniques and drills -- some of which I have talked about in previous posts ---- as well as a personal trainer friend who will set up individual programs to be used away from the clinic ---- racewalking instruction from folks like my friend Sarah and some of her co-horts I hope!! --- and a ton of core, core , core exercises and oh, did I mention Cross-training -- lots of cycling when they have a chance---- and that is just in the first week(LOL).

The cold seems to be finally going away -- Yesterday a 5k tempo and 15k bike and today a 6k tempo and 15k bike -- the plan is to do my last long distance next Sunday at speed to see where I am and what kind of mental prep I need to reach my goal....this Sunday I will try to get a decent distance at speed in with my Oakville group...........Oct 20th is a final goodbye to the Rosedale group with a morning walk and lunch BBQ -- a great send off for Japan...

Stephen --- I am with you in Portland in spirit -- that little guy on your shoulder saying you can do it --- well that's me!!!!

Myself and John Stanton
John Stanton and some of the A TEAM

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fibre of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.

Man I hate sickness -- I am struggling with a bad cold right now that has certainly hampered my training but in the long run it may be a blessing to take 3 or 4 days and rest the sore muscles -- maybe the cold is my body telling me I have been pushing it and to start to taper -- what's that?????

Had my last official session with the Rosedale group on Saturday -- did 18km and in the middle we stopped at the Commerce Court Running Room and met John Stanton - the owner and founder of the Running Room,-- who was there for the Run run/walk for the ScotiaBank Toronto Marathon...................Hence the pictures above -------GOOD NEWS from John -- he has given the OK to start my proposed "PERSONAL BEST" ADVANCED WALKING CLINIC -- the members of the A team were thrilled as was I -- it will begin in January at the Commerce Court Running Room and is a pilot project -- one of a kind in Canada -- if, I mean when, we make it work who knows where it will lead to..............I am pumped about this -- gives me basically three months to organize as well as refresh myself -- I can get the "DR. EVIL" mask back on and design some interesting workouts -- this will be a blast.

Picked up the tickets for Japan today -- we are really on our way --- it will be great to have so many of the family there to watch and my step son will be there running it and trying to pace me as best he can for the first half and then he will take off on his own............this is so exciting, I had my Canada shirt on on Saturday at Commerce Court and the number of people who signed it for luck was amazing and so supportive.... on the back of the shirt is written

"THE DREAM"

SUWA KO 21.1

28/10/2007

JAPAN

"TIME TO WALK THE WALK"